Course Description:
The successful American Literature Honors student will continue to practice and refine the skills of the composition process. The student will study and analyze American literature to gain an understanding of literary devices, historical influences, and universal themes and will be able to respond to these in both oral and written forms; will apply effective reading strategies, build his/her vocabulary, and explore the structure and function of the English language; will refine listening and speaking skills, and will apply critical thinking/problem-solving techniques. While the curriculum and text choice will essentially be the same, honors students will be expected to read, write, and think at a higher level than regular English 11 students. Assignments and assessments will, in turn, ask more of the honors student.
Course Outline: Quarter 1: America: Vision and Reality
Focus on who and what shaped and shapes the way we envision America and the reality that either confirms or conflicts with that vision. Quarter 2: War and the Psychology of Violence
Focus on how violence and war have psychologically influenced and impacted both our culture and the literature within it. Quarter 3: One Nation—Many Voices
Focus on the way a variety of ethnic cultures have impacted our culture and literature. Quarter 4: Adaptation, Survival and the Rejuvenation of the Human Spirit
Focus on how the individual has shaped the community and spirit of American culture and literature.
Textbook/Resource materials: Language Network gr. 11 Vocabulary from Greek and Latin Roots V Daily Oral Language, gr. 11
Any of the following novels: The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, In Cold Blood by Capote, The Things They Carried by O’Brien, Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Frankenstein by Shelley, The Secret Life of Bees by Chopin, A Raisin in the Sun by Hansberry, The Crucible and Death of a Salesman by Miller.
Any of the following novel-length nonfiction texts: The Autobiography of Frederick Douglas, Nickel and Dimed by Ehrenreich, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Fadiman, Into the Wild by Krakauer, The Color of Water by McBride, and Fast Food Nation by Schlosser.
*We will also do independent reading in which students will select an appropriate novel of their choice.
Required Materials and Supplies: *New Berlin West Writing Handbook
*Blue or black pens (no other colors please)
*Loose paper to use for assignments
*Notebook (Very important! It will be graded at the end of each quarter, and I will collect it periodically to check it).
*Access to the internet and e-mail.
Grading Scale:
A+ 98-100
B+ 88-89
C+ 78-79
D+ 68-69
A 93-97
B 83-87
C 73-77
D 63-67
A- 90-92
B- 80-82
C- 70-72
D- 60-62
Each assignment is given a point value. In general, the more difficult and time consuming the assignment, the more points assigned. Final percentages are determined by the number of points a student has divided by the total number of points available during the semester. Each quarter is worth 40%, with the semester exam worth 20% of the final semester grade.
Late Work Policy:
Unless I say otherwise, homework is due at the beginning of class. If you are not done with your assignment when it is due, you will attend “homework club.”
What is “Homework Club” you ask? “Homework Club” is for any student who doesn’t complete their homework on a given day. If this student is you, then you must come into my room before (7:15) or after school (3:05) or during your lunch period on that day or the following day to complete the assignment. The club lasts 30 minutes. If you don’t get the assignment done in that time, you may stay until you get it done (4 pm at the latest after school) or simply turn in however much you complete. If you do not show up to “Homework Club” you will get a zero for that assignment and your parent/guardian will receive an email or phone call indicating that you did not show up. *Please note that even if you finish the assignment before you attend homework club, you must stay the entire 30 minutes and work on other schoolwork.
The only slight exception to this will be with the major essays I assign during the year. For those essays (and there should be about 4 of them), you will have the chance to resubmit an essay as many times as you would like. However, it must have been turned in on the original due date for you to have this opportunity. If you do decide to resubmit an essay, you must meet with me after school for approximately 15 minutes to discuss the paper, or you can schedule a visit with one of the tutors in the writing center. After the paper is resubmitted, I will re-grade the paper and make the applicable change in my grade book. If you submit it again, it will be re-graded again and, again, the grade will be updated. Each resubmission requires another 15-minute conference with me. Also, bigger assignments (projects, etc) that cannot be completed in “Homework Club,” will be accepted one day late for half-credit. After that one day, I will not accept the project. I will always let you know if an assignment does not qualify for “Homework Club.”
If you have an excused absence, you get one extra day to complete the assignment (two days means two extra days, etc.). Please be advised, however, that the same policy regarding late work is in effect even if you have an excused absence. Also, if the assignment has been given days in advance (usually projects or essays), and you are absent on the day it is due, YOU MUST TURN IT IN ON THE DAY YOU RETURN FROM YOUR ABSENCE. YOU DO NOT GET ONE EXTRA DAY TO WORK ON IT.
Absence or Tardiness Policy:
Class policies follow district policies as outline in the student handbook.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism, the intentional or unintentional copying of an author’s original work, is absolutely unacceptable in any form. This includes, but is not limited to, using ideas found in another student’s work, the Internet, or contemporary nonfiction (magazines, newspapers). It is also plagiarism if the words have been rearranged or altered. All essays will go through turnitin.com, an online database to check for academic honesty. *Please see student handbook for Academic Honesty policy.
Extra Credit:
I rarely, if ever, give extra credit opportunities!
While I will use the New Berlin West website for basic information (how to contact me, this syllabus, etc), the more dynamic website will be the wiki (please see page one of this for the URL). A wiki is an ever-changing website designed to help students collaborate and expand the reading, writing, and thinking we do in class. Parents are more than welcome to view the website, but only students who join may change materials posted on the site. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
A Few Last Words
Just wanted to wrap up by saying how excited I am to have you in my class. I also want to let the parents know that I truly look forward to working with you! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Please sign this portion of the letter, detach it, and return it to me by Friday, September 5, 2008.
Student Name (Please Print)
Parent/Guardian Signature Date_
I would also like your email address to use on an Eng. 11 Honors parent listserv. This will be used to send out periodic (about once a month) newsletter-type reminders about what we’re doing in class, important dates, and general comments. I will not use this listserv to discuss particular students, and your individual emails will not be included when I send out group emails. Thank You! Include me on the listerv. My e-mail is _.
Phone # __
(note: Please tell me if this is the preferred manner to contact you. Otherwise, I will use email)
Mr. Mullen
262-789-6458 (voicemail)
mullend@nbps.k12.wi.us (preferred)
Website: http://www.nbps.k12.wi.us/faculty/mullend/
Wiki(where the daily schedule is located): http://mullendr11h.wiksipaces.com
Course Description:
The successful American Literature Honors student will continue to practice and refine the skills of the composition process. The student will study and analyze American literature to gain an understanding of literary devices, historical influences, and universal themes and will be able to respond to these in both oral and written forms; will apply effective reading strategies, build his/her vocabulary, and explore the structure and function of the English language; will refine listening and speaking skills, and will apply critical thinking/problem-solving techniques. While the curriculum and text choice will essentially be the same, honors students will be expected to read, write, and think at a higher level than regular English 11 students. Assignments and assessments will, in turn, ask more of the honors student.
Course Outline:
Quarter 1: America: Vision and Reality
Focus on who and what shaped and shapes the way we envision America and the reality that either confirms or conflicts with that vision.
Quarter 2: War and the Psychology of Violence
Focus on how violence and war have psychologically influenced and impacted both our culture and the literature within it.
Quarter 3: One Nation—Many Voices
Focus on the way a variety of ethnic cultures have impacted our culture and literature.
Quarter 4: Adaptation, Survival and the Rejuvenation of the Human Spirit
Focus on how the individual has shaped the community and spirit of American culture and literature.
Textbook/Resource materials:
Language Network gr. 11
Vocabulary from Greek and Latin Roots V
Daily Oral Language, gr. 11
Any of the following novels: The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, In Cold Blood by Capote, The Things They Carried by O’Brien, Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Frankenstein by Shelley, The Secret Life of Bees by Chopin, A Raisin in the Sun by Hansberry, The Crucible and Death of a Salesman by Miller.
Any of the following novel-length nonfiction texts: The Autobiography of Frederick Douglas, Nickel and Dimed by Ehrenreich, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Fadiman, Into the Wild by Krakauer, The Color of Water by McBride, and Fast Food Nation by Schlosser.
*We will also do independent reading in which students will select an appropriate novel of their choice.
Required Materials and Supplies:
*New Berlin West Writing Handbook
*Blue or black pens (no other colors please)
*Loose paper to use for assignments
*Notebook (Very important! It will be graded at the end of each quarter, and I will collect it periodically to check it).
*Access to the internet and e-mail.Grading Scale:
Each assignment is given a point value. In general, the more difficult and time consuming the assignment, the more points assigned. Final percentages are determined by the number of points a student has divided by the total number of points available during the semester. Each quarter is worth 40%, with the semester exam worth 20% of the final semester grade.
Late Work Policy:
Unless I say otherwise, homework is due at the beginning of class. If you are not done with your assignment when it is due, you will attend “homework club.”
What is “Homework Club” you ask? “Homework Club” is for any student who doesn’t complete their homework on a given day. If this student is you, then you must come into my room before (7:15) or after school (3:05) or during your lunch period on that day or the following day to complete the assignment. The club lasts 30 minutes. If you don’t get the assignment done in that time, you may stay until you get it done (4 pm at the latest after school) or simply turn in however much you complete. If you do not show up to “Homework Club” you will get a zero for that assignment and your parent/guardian will receive an email or phone call indicating that you did not show up. *Please note that even if you finish the assignment before you attend homework club, you must stay the entire 30 minutes and work on other schoolwork.
The only slight exception to this will be with the major essays I assign during the year. For those essays (and there should be about 4 of them), you will have the chance to resubmit an essay as many times as you would like. However, it must have been turned in on the original due date for you to have this opportunity. If you do decide to resubmit an essay, you must meet with me after school for approximately 15 minutes to discuss the paper, or you can schedule a visit with one of the tutors in the writing center. After the paper is resubmitted, I will re-grade the paper and make the applicable change in my grade book. If you submit it again, it will be re-graded again and, again, the grade will be updated. Each resubmission requires another 15-minute conference with me. Also, bigger assignments (projects, etc) that cannot be completed in “Homework Club,” will be accepted one day late for half-credit. After that one day, I will not accept the project. I will always let you know if an assignment does not qualify for “Homework Club.”
If you have an excused absence, you get one extra day to complete the assignment (two days means two extra days, etc.). Please be advised, however, that the same policy regarding late work is in effect even if you have an excused absence. Also, if the assignment has been given days in advance (usually projects or essays), and you are absent on the day it is due, YOU MUST TURN IT IN ON THE DAY YOU RETURN FROM YOUR ABSENCE. YOU DO NOT GET ONE EXTRA DAY TO WORK ON IT.
Absence or Tardiness Policy:
Class policies follow district policies as outline in the student handbook.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism, the intentional or unintentional copying of an author’s original work, is absolutely unacceptable in any form. This includes, but is not limited to, using ideas found in another student’s work, the Internet, or contemporary nonfiction (magazines, newspapers). It is also plagiarism if the words have been rearranged or altered. All essays will go through turnitin.com, an online database to check for academic honesty. *Please see student handbook for Academic Honesty policy.
Extra Credit:
I rarely, if ever, give extra credit opportunities!
While I will use the New Berlin West website for basic information (how to contact me, this syllabus, etc), the more dynamic website will be the wiki (please see page one of this for the URL). A wiki is an ever-changing website designed to help students collaborate and expand the reading, writing, and thinking we do in class. Parents are more than welcome to view the website, but only students who join may change materials posted on the site. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
A Few Last Words
Just wanted to wrap up by saying how excited I am to have you in my class. I also want to let the parents know that I truly look forward to working with you! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.Sincerely,
Please sign this portion of the letter, detach it, and return it to me by Friday, September 5, 2008.
Student Name (Please Print)
Parent/Guardian Signature Date_
I would also like your email address to use on an Eng. 11 Honors parent listserv. This will be used to send out periodic (about once a month) newsletter-type reminders about what we’re doing in class, important dates, and general comments. I will not use this listserv to discuss particular students, and your individual emails will not be included when I send out group emails.
Thank You!
Include me on the listerv. My e-mail is _.
Phone # __
(note: Please tell me if this is the preferred manner to contact you. Otherwise, I will use email)